Man convicted of Dh1.7m theft from grandfather's home

DUBAI // A man was convicted yesterday of breaking into his grandfather's house, tying up the maid and stealing Dh1.7 million from his elderly relative's safe.

The 35-year-old Emirati, BM, and two accomplices, HJ, 34, also an Emirati, and the Yemeni carpenter, YA, 28, all confessed and were sentenced to three years in prison by the Dubai Criminal Court of First Instance for theft and illegal confinement.

The woman was trapped for four days until she was freed by the grandfather.

The men broke into the 77-year-old victim's Bur Dubai villa on March 24. Family prosecutors handled the investigation after the grandfather said her suspected his grandson.

When police found him he had more than Dh6,000 in cash on him and a further Dh921,000 was found in a safe. Police recovered Dh374,000 from YA's home when he was arrested.

BM filmed the entrances and exits of his grandfather's house and planned the robbery.

HJ went to the house while the grandfather was away and told the maid he was a police officer. He then tied her hands and feet with cable and locked her in a room. YA then jumped into the house through a window from which he removed the air conditioner. The three took the safe in a rented car to another location and broke it open.

amustafa@thenational.ae